Shyness and little boy blue: iris pigmentation, gender, and social wariness in preschoolers.
In recent years, researchers have uncovered a link between iris pigmentation and inhibition/social wariness among young children (e.g., Rosenberg & Kagan, 1987, 1989; Rubin & Both, 1989). In the present study, 152 Caucasian preschool-aged (Mage = 54.09 months, SD = 5.84) children (77 males) with either blue (n = 84) or brown (n = 68) eyes, were compared in terms of parental and teacher ratings of social wariness, social play, and aggression. A significant Eye Color x Gender Interaction was found in terms of indices of social wariness; blue-eyed males were rated as more socially wary than brown-eyed males, while blue- and brown-eyed females did not differ in this regard. These results supported the notion that eye color is a marker variable for social wariness in young children.
Coplan
R J
RJ
Department of Psychology, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
Coleman
B
B
Rubin
K H
KH
D000374:Aggression / Q000502:physiology; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology; D002652:Child Behavior; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005127:Eye Color / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007266:Inhibition, Psychological; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology; D010988:Play and Playthings; D012737:Sex Factors; D012792:Shyness; D012938:Social Perception; D013663:Teaching; D013694:Temperament / Q000502:physiology*